do you need the visual appeal of a photo in order to cook a recipe?

[Olive]

cai i can bearly even look at those sort of cookbooks i flick and close!! i like step by step too! infact and photo will do

[allycat06]

I think I'm more inspired to try something new if there is a nice photo to look at and am more inclined to buy cookbooks with lots of photos like Donna Hay, Jamie Oliver etc
But like Rouge said I also have those big fat ones with no pics because they are household staples.

[Phteven]

I don't need a photo - sometimes the photo just depresses me because my yummy meal doesn't have the same visual appeal as something that has been styled (when the hell did food get stylists anyway?).